PORTAGE, MI – After tackling the somber holocaust subject with last year’s “And a Child Shall Lead,” Portage Northern High School director Michael Scheidt thought his students could use something lighter for this February’s production.

So beginning Feb. 1, the Portage Public Schools Northern drama department students will be putting on the comedy “Lend Me A Tenor,” the winner of three Tony Awards and four Drama Desk honors.

“It’s a classic bedroom farce with mistaken identity and lots of doors slamming,” Scheidt said. “It’s just really good fun. Last year we did ‘And a Child Shall Lead,’ the holocaust product that had tears streaming down faces. It moved them in one direction and now it’s time to move them in another.”

“Lend Me A Tenor” takes place in 1934 as Saunders (Christian Maurer), the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, prepares to welcome the world famous tenor Tito Morelli (Buchanan Highhouse) for one night only as Otello.

But things quickly get out of hand as “Il Stupendo” arrives late, is mistakenly given a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out. His pulse is so low that Saunders and his assistant Max (Brett Gowen) believe he’s dead.

So Saunders talks Max into taking Morelli's place by wearing the costume to fool the audience. Max succeeds, but Morelli comes to and gets into his other costume ready to perform. That means there are two Otellos running around in costume and two women (Rachel Hurwitz and Hailey Burger) running around thinking she is with Il Stupendo.

“It’s a farce with two speeds – fast and faster,” Scheidt said. “You have to know what doors you are going in and out of. It’s a challenge, too, in a different way. Comedy isn’t easy.”

Show dates are 8 p.m. Feb. 1, 2, 8, 9 and 3 p.m. Feb. 10, all at the Portage Northern High School Auditorium. Tickets are $13 for adults and $11 for students and are available at the door or at the box office by calling 323-5470. For more details, go to www.pndrama.org.